This entry is dedicated to my cousin in London, who is about to have family from India come to visit.

The Punjabi extended family is as rich and complex as the cuisine. Familial responsibilities, obligations and levels of respect have depths that are difficult to put into words. I don’t think non-Indian people really get it, but I’m open to correction if I’m wrong.

To make my point (and to document what cannot be found on the web), I have put together a summary of Punjabi kinship terms, many of which simply do not exist in the english language. You should note that some of the terms double up as swear words due to the tenuous relationship. (Your wife’s brother, or sala, apparently is usually a pain.)

Also there are different words for relationships depending on relative age in the family (to ensure the right amount of respect) and whether you are on the maternal or paternal side. Punjabi families are usually all about the boys…

After my research, what I found most interesting was that there was no word for ‘Cousin’ (you’re just brothers and sisters) and no word for ‘Husband’ or ‘Wife’! If you want to refer to your husband, you call him ‘Your Man of the House’. Your wife would be called ‘Your Bride’.

Needless to say, the Punjabi family can be an endless source of joy and at times an endless source of stress!

If I have missed out any terms, please leave me a comment as I am trying to come up with an exhaustive list.

And many thanks to my Sas and Nanaans for their help in pulling this list together!

Mother – Mataji

Father – Papaji

Son – Putar

Daughter – Dhee

My Mother’s Mother – Naniji

My Mother’s Father – Nanaji

My Father’s Mother – Dadiji

My Father’s Father – Dadaji

My Older Brother – Veerji

My Younger Brother – Kaka

My Sister – Bhenji

My Younger Sister – Bhen

My Mother’s Grandparents – Parnani / Parnana

My Father’s Grandparents – Pardadi / Pardada

My Husband – Karwala (loosely translated: Man of the House)

My Wife – Woti (loosely translated: Bride)

My Cousin – ???

My Father’s Older Brother – Taya

My Father’s Older Brother’s Wife – Tayee

My Father’s Younger Brother – Chacha

My Father’s Younger Brother’s Wife – Chachi

My Father’s Sister – Bhua

My Father’s Sister’s Husband – Phupher

My Mother’s Brother–Mama

My Mother’s Brother’s Wife –Mami

My Mother’s Sister – Masi

My Mother’s Sister’s Husband – Masar

My Brother’s Wife – Bharjayee or Bhabi

My Brother’s Son – Bhateeja

My Brother’s Daughter – Bhateejee

My Sister’s Husband – Jeeeja

My Sister’s Son – Panewa or Bhanja

My Sister’s Daughter – Panewee

My Wife’s Brother – Sala (but you never say Salaji!)

My Wife’s Brother’s Wife – Salehar

My Wife’s Sister – Sali

My Wife’s Sister’s Husband – Sandhu

My Husband’s Sister – Nanaan

My Husband’s Sister’s Husband – Nanaan Waya

My Husband’s Older Brother – Jeth

My Husband’s Older Brother’s Wife – Jethani

My Husband’s Younger Brother – Dewar

My Husband’s Younger Brother’s Wife – Dewarani

My Son’s Son – Potra

My Son’s Daughter – Potri

My Daughter’s Son – Dotra

My Daughter’s Daughter – Dotri

My Son-in-Law – Jawai

Daughter-in-Law – Noo

My Father-in-Law – Sora

My Mother-in-Law – Sas

Father-in-Law to Father-in-Law – Kurm

Mother-in-Law to Mother-in-Law – Kurmani

6 Responses to “The Extended Punjabi Family”

it isn’t just any family arriving…it’s the head honcho, the main man, the head of the family will be landing on our shores very soon….I’ve already started to hear the long list of things I should and shouldn’t be doing while he’s here….out of respect of course.

Honestly Suresh, lets keep that one on the DownLow. Besides, honestly speaking here, I probably would have no idea if you were talking to me or not cause I can’t even begin to pronounce or guess the pronunciation of that word.